Patent US5851398A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5070714A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5070714A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tamper resistant locking device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-01-30
•
Granted: 1991-12-10
•
Expires: 2010-01-30
Abstract
Abstract A tamper resistant lock construction for a door, drawer, or similar closure is disclosed. A lock bolt releasably locks the closure. A plurality of finger openings are provided, each finger opening adapted to receive a finger. At least one actuator in each finger opening is positioned to be selectively operated by a finger inserted into the finger opening. The lock bolt is released only in response to the actuation of a preselected combination of the actuators.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven G. Bedford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:35
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B29/00; E05B29/0006; E05B37/00; E05B37/0003; E05B37/16; E05B65/00; E05B65/0014; G; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/00174; G07C9/00658; G07C9/00674; G07C9/0069; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S292/00; Y10S292/63; Y10S292/65; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/70; Y10T70/7153; Y10T70/7169
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
An improved release for lock that makes something secure or inaccessible, the release comprising: a plurality of finger openings located adjacent each other, each adapted to simultaneously receive a finger from a single hand; at least one actuator in each finger opening, positioned in the opening to be actuated by a finger inserted into the opening; and means for releasing the lock only in response to the actuation of a preselected combination of the actuators.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
An improved release for lock that makes something secure or inaccessible, the release comprising: a plurality of finger openings located adjacent each other, each adapted to simultaneously receive a finger from a single hand; at least one actuator in each finger opening, positioned in the opening to be actuated by a finger inserted into the opening; and means for releasing the lock only in response to the actuation of a preselected combination of the actuators.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improved release according to claim 1 wherein the means for releasing the lock only releases the lock in response to the simultaneous actuation of the preselected combination of actuators.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improved release according to claim 1 wherein the finger openings are sufficiently long and the actuators are positioned in the finger openings so that a child cannot actuate the actuators.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improved release according to claim 1 wherein the depths of the finger openings are adjustable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
The improved release according to claim 1 further comprising means for storing the preselected combination, wherein the actuators comprise finger actuable switches, and wherein the releasing means comprises means for comparing the actuated switches to the preselected combination stored in the storing means and for providing an output signal in the event that the actuated switches correspond to the preselected combination, and a circuit, responsive to the output signal, for releasing the lock.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improved release according to claim 5 wherein the circuit comprises a solenoid activated in response to the output signal to release the lock.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improved release according to claim 1 further comprising means for counting the consecutive number of attempts that are made to release the lock, and for temporarily preventing release of the lock means if the number of attempts exceeds a preselected number.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
A tamper resistant lock construction for a door, drawer, or similar closure, the lock construction comprising: means for releasably locking the closure; a plurality of finger openings located adjacent each other, each adapted to simultaneously receive a finger from a single hand; at least one actuator in each finger opening positioned to be selectively operated by a finger inserted into the finger opening; means for releasing the lock means only in response to the actuation of a preselected combination of the actuators.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
A tamper resistant lock construction for a door, drawer, or similar closure, the lock construction comprising: means for releasably locking the closure; a plurality of finger openings located adjacent each other, each adapted to simultaneously receive a finger from a single hand; at least one actuator in each finger opening positioned to be selectively operated by a finger inserted into the finger opening; means for releasing the lock means only in response to the actuation of a preselected combination of the actuators.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tamper resistant lock construction according to claim 8 wherein the means for releasing the lock only releases the lock in response to the simultaneous actuation of the preselected combination of actuators.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The tamper resistant lock construction according to claim 8 wherein the finger openings are sufficiently long, and the actuators are positioned in the finger openings so that a child cannot actuate the actuators
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tamper resistant lock construction according to claim 10 wherein the finger openings are curved.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tamper resistant lock construction according to claim 8 wherein the depths of the finger openings are adjustable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
105 words
The tamper resistant lock construction according to claim 8 wherein the lock means comprises a lock bolt that moves between a locked position in which the closure is locked and an unlocked position in which the closure is unlocked, and wherein the means for releasing the lock means comprises at least one means for engaging the lock bolt and retaining the lock bolt in its locked position and disengaging the lock bolt upon the actuation of a preselected actuator, and at least one means for engaging the lock bolt and retaining the lock bolt in its locked position upon the actuation of a preselected actuator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
87 words
The tamper resistant lock construction according to claim 8 wherein the lock means comprises a lock bolt that moves between a locked position in which the closure is locked and an unlocked position in which the closure is unlocked, and wherein the means for releasing the lock means comprises means for engaging and retaining the lock bolt in its locked position and means for comparing the combination of actuators actuated with a preselected combination and releasing the lock bolt when the combination corresponds to the preselected combination.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The tamper resistant lock construction according to claim 12 wherein the means for comparing and releasing includes a solenoid activated to move the lock bolt to its unlocked position when the combination corresponds to the preselected combination.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The tamper resistant lock construction according to claim 8 further comprising means for counting the consecutive number of attempts that are made to open the lock means, and for temporarily preventing release of the lock means if the number of attempts exceeds a preselected number.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The tamper resistant lock construction according to claim 8 further comprising means for counting the number of attempts that are made to open the door, drawer, or closure, and for temporarily preventing release of the lock means if the number of attempts exceeds a preselected number.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The tamper resistant lock construction according to claim 17 further comprises means for selecting and storing the preselected number of attempts, and means for comparing the number of attempts with the preselected number of attempts.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tamper resistant lock construction according to claim 17 further comprising means for detecting attempts to open the door, drawer, or closure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US840054A
Cited
US1567135A
Cited
US2484597A
Cited
US2972879A
Cited
US2936189A
Cited
US3109900A
Cited
US3160431A
Cited
US3631444A
Cited
US3772574A
Cited
US3893721A
Cited
US3999792A
Cited
US4198084A
Cited
US4714030A
Cited
US4660394A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-12-09 | 1995-06-10 | 1995-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-09 | 1999-06-10 | 1999-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-09 | 2003-06-10 | 2003-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |